The WayFM Network is a national,
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
radio
Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...
broadcasting network in the United States, primarily playing
Christian adult contemporary Christian adult contemporary, also known as Christian AC or CAC, is a radio format. In the United States, Christian adult contemporary radio stations cater to a mostly adult audience and are similar to mainstream adult contemporary stations in that ...
music. While WayFM is based in
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...
, content creation and programming originates in
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city in and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. About south of Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area and Middle Tennessee. As of 2020, its population was 83,454 ...
and operates stations in 12
states (as of May 2018).
History
Origins in Fort Myers
WAY Media, Inc. was founded in 1987 by Bob Augsburg. The non-profit corporation began as a single
FM radio station
Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...
in
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 20 ...
.
In the early 1980s, Bob and Felice Augsburg were residing in Fort Myers, where Bob was working as the Program Director at
WSOR, a Christian radio station formatted for older adults. Bob and Felice have said that they "were compelled by the burden to see a younger audience reached and Bob began producing a Saturday evening broadcast geared for youth."
This program, which aired on WSOR, became the springboard for Christian Rock concerts in the area and the impetus for a 24/7 station with this type of format.
Much discussion with local parents and business people led to a non-profit Florida corporation and an application filed with the
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...
(FCC) for an unused FM frequency.
On Christmas Eve (December 24) 1986, the group received its permit for the construction of a new non-commercial FM station in Fort Myers,
WAYJ
WAYJ (89.5 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Naples, Florida, United States, the station is currently owned and operated by WAY-FM Network.
History
The station went on the air as WBPT on February 1, 198 ...
. On October 9, 1987, WAYJ, broadcasting as "WAY-FM", signed on the air.
Growth
By 1992, three WAY-FM radio stations were on the air—including Fort Myers;
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
(WAYM); and
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lagoon. The populati ...
(WAYF).
In the mid-90s, WAY-FM stations, beginning with WAYF, began to sponsor and organize large Christian music concerts and day-long music festivals. Within a few years, Nashville and Fort Myers also began to sponsor major Christian music events.
After several years of planning, in 1996, WAY-FM began the Christian Hit Radio Satellite Network (CHRSN). The network was designed to help other stations who desired to reach the youth and young adults of their respective communities but lacked the manpower or resources to operate a station on their own.
Corporate office established
In 2001, WAY-FM Media Group established a corporate office in
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...
where Bob Augsburg, the president and founder now lives. Dusty Rhodes, former Station Manager of WAYF, joined Augsburg in Colorado as Chief Operating Officer and is now the ministry's Senior Vice President.
In 2005, Dar Ringling joined the ministry as Chief Financial Officer while Lloyd Parker, formerly General Manager of the
K-LOVE &
Air1
Air1 is an American Christian radio network. Owned by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF), it primarily broadcasts contemporary worship music, and is a sister to the EMF's K-Love network.
History
In 1986, KLRD began broadcasting Christia ...
Radio Networks, became the Chief Operating Officer.
In 2012, WAY-FM shifted from its long time Christian CHR format to a Christian Adult Contemporary format, along with shifting their audience from 18- to 34-year-olds, to older adults (25-54), thus growing up with its original audience more or less. Since 2013 WAY-FM via flagship station WAYM, Nashville is a Christian AC reporter to the Nielsen BDS service, and became a monitored reporter to Mediabase's Christian AC panel in April 2015.
In July 2013, WAY-FM ceased providing programming to non-owned stations via satellite, with the exception of the network morning show, ''The Wally Show''. In 2017, ''The Wally Show'' stopped syndication, as well.
In May 2015, WAY-FM announced plans to acquire
KVRK, in North Texas.
The Station calls letters are now KAWA and now broadcasts the national WAY-FM format. The former Power FM however has become an online music channel, app, and community of Christian rock fans managed by WAY-FM Media Group.
New CEO
In August 2017, founder Bob Augsburg officially retired from his position as CEO.
Bob remains on the board of directors and is still involved in the ministry. John Scaggs was chosen as the new CEO.
Merger with Hope Media Group
On January 26, 2022; it was announced that Way Media Group would merge with Hope Media Group based out of Houston, Texas. Hope Media Group owns and operates heritage Christian AC station
KSBJ
KSBJ is a non-commercial Contemporary Christian music radio station based in Humble, Texas, broadcasting on 89.3 MHz FM in the Greater Houston area. KSBJ is owned and operated by Hope Media Group (formerly KSBJ Educational Foundation).
KS ...
89.3, and Spanish Christian AC sister
KHVU
KHVU (91.7 FM, "Vida Unida 91.7") is a non-commercial radio station in Houston, Texas. It is owned by Hope Media Group, which owns Christian AC-formatted KSBJ, and airs a Spanish-language Christian adult contemporary radio format. The studios an ...
91.7 (Vida Unida), along with internet radio station
NGEN Radio
NGEN Radio (stands for Now Generation Radio) is a Christian hip-hop and pop station based in Houston, Texas. NGEN plays artists like NF, Lecrae, Tori Kelly, Twenty One Pilots, Andy Mineo, Needtobreathe, KB, Gawvi, Bizzle and TobyMac, with remi ...
which features a pop and Hip-Hop leaning Christian CHR format.
Current reach
At this time, WAY-FM owns and operates 20 full power FM radio stations. WAY-FM also owns 24 translator stations. WAY-FM is also heard online and offers two online exclusive streams. ''NGEN radio'' streaming Christian Pop and Hip-Hop and ''Way Loud'' streaming Christian Active/Alternative Rock.
Station list
Alabama
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Oregon
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
References
External links
Official website
{{American broadcast radio
American radio networks
Religion in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Christianity in Colorado
Christian rock
Radio stations established in 1987
Radio broadcasting companies of the United States